Procedure for deriving a three-dimensional digital mask starting from a series of two-dimensional masks, plus a device for doing this

ABSTRACT

A derivation procedure for a three-dimensional digital mask from a series of two-dimensional masks in a radiographic device containing a source (S) of X-rays, a means of recording and a volume of interest that contains the object to be X-rayed located between the source (S) and the means of recording consists of an extrapolation of each mask Mθ2 includes determining a last segment lfin beyond the limits of the means of recording; and working out a two-dimensional mask Mγ associated with a position Sγ of the source, for any angle γ included in the angular range θ2 to θ1 (a position close to θ2). For every parallel segment 1 located between segment d (or d′ respectively) and segment lfin, the procedure further includes deriving a three-dimensional mask of the object for each voxel at the intersection of plane P1θ2 and the volume of interest; and projecting the three-dimensional mask onto the segment 1.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)-(d) or (f) to prior-filed, co-pending French patent application serial number 0760151, filed on Dec. 20, 2007, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention relates to radiographic devices and methods generally. More particularly, the field of the invention is concerned with an extrapolation procedure for a two-dimensional mask and a procedure for working out a three-dimensional mask based on an extrapolated series of two-dimensional masks, these procedures being intended for use in a radiographic device, particularly of the tomosynthesis type.

2. Description of Related Art

In any tomosynthesis application, it can be interesting to be able to extrapolate a two-dimensional mask for an object projected at the level of truncated views of the object, and then to be able to estimate a three-dimensional mask based on a series of two-dimensional masks extrapolated in this way. This extrapolation of the two-dimensional masks is indeed useful when it is necessary to have an estimate of the signal outside the physical limits of the detector during reconstruction. The three-dimensional mask can be used as a priori information in iterative reconstruction methods in order to speed up the reconstruction while focusing only on the voxels that belong to the object under consideration, or in order to eliminate artefacts that the reconstruction has created outside the object under consideration. The principle difficulties in constructing reliable three-dimensional masks derive from the limited angular interval swept out by the source and the truncation of the object under consideration in some projections as a result of the finite dimensions of the detector.

For example, in the case of digital tomosynthesis of the breast, such tomosynthesis is a new imaging technique for the breast using three-dimensional tomography that is restricted in terms of angles. It allows the problem of superposition in the detection of lesions to be largely circumvented. Multiple views projected from different angles of acquisition potentially reduce the number of false positives due to the addition of artefacts, and the number of false negatives due to masking effects by the covering tissues. During the tomosynthesis examination, a series of images is obtained for a variety of angles of acquisition with the aim of reconstructing a three-dimensional representation of the breast. During the reconstruction procedure, knowing for a given voxel ν of the three-dimensional representation whether or not it has information about the breast can help reduce the artefacts as well as the calculation time. This knowledge can be represented with the help of a three-dimensional mask M of the breast: M [ν]=1 if ν belongs to the breast and M [ν]=0 otherwise. As this mask M has been reconstructed using the two-dimensional masks deriving from the series of images acquired earlier, the assumption is made that all the voxels of the region of interest are located within the limits of the detector. However, in reality there are voxels in the region of interest that are not projected within the limits of the detector when certain images within the series are being acquired. This means that the two-dimensional mask for the breast outside the limits of the detector has to be estimated. Without a priori information, the natural approach is to decide that all pixels outside the limits of the detector are part of the breast. This way, the two-dimensional masks (and consequently the three-dimensional ones) never underestimate the shape of the breast, because they are always larger than that shape. As a result, when the three-dimensional mask is constructed, artefacts can appear: staircases. The contour of the resulting mask is therefore a poor estimation of what it really should be, and the shape of the mask is not continuous. In consequence, using the three-dimensional mask obtained this way on the three-dimensional representation produces an unnatural skin line in the final three-dimensional representation, which complicates the diagnoses that the practitioners make based on it.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aim of an embodiment of the invention is to provide an extrapolation procedure for two-dimensional masks of an object in views with truncated projections (in order that the mask extrapolated using a specific projection will be regular and consistent with the two-dimensional masks made using other projections) and to reconstruct a three-dimensional mask of the object acquired that does not underestimate the object and which is regular, in the sense that the truncation of the views does not introduce any discontinuities in the mask.

To achieve this, the exemplary embodiment of the invention envisages an extrapolation procedure for a two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) in a radiographic device of the type containing a mobile X-ray source taking up at least two positions S_(θ1) and S_(θ2) in space, associated with their respective two-dimensional masks M_(θ1) and M_(θ2), a means of recording that is in an essentially planar arrangement opposite the source and which contains a limit (d, d′) and a volume of interest consisting of an object that is suitable for radiography, located between the source and the means of recording, the procedure consisting of the following steps:

-   -   a) at least partial estimation of a series of two-dimensional         masks M_(γ) associated with a series of positions S_(γ) for the         source, located between the source's positions S_(θ1) and         S_(θ2), starting from the two-dimensional masks M_(θ1) and         M_(θ2)     -   b) at least partial evaluation of an intermediate         three-dimensional mask for the object, starting from the series         of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) and the two-dimensional masks         M_(θ1) and M_(θ2)     -   c) extrapolation of the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) beyond the         limits d or d′ of the means of recording, according to a         relative position between S_(θ1) and S_(θ2), starting from the         intermediate three-dimensional mask

A beneficial but optional part of the procedure in accordance with the invention includes at least one of the following features:

-   -   before step a), if the two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) associated         with the source position S_(θ1) is not available, the         two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) is extrapolated from the available         two-dimensional masks M_(θ);     -   the extrapolation of step c) involves projection of the         intermediate three-dimensional mask based on position S_(θ2)         onto a plane passing through the means of recording;     -   the (at least partial) working out from step a) is carried out         at the limit d or d′ of the means of recording, according to the         relative position between _(θ1) and S_(θ2);     -   for each of the two-dimensional masks M_(γ), the (at least         partial) estimation from step a) involves a step that determines         a point T_(γ) situated at an edge of the object, projected onto         the limit d or d′ of the means of recording, with the source at         position S_(γ)     -   the points T_(γ) are estimated by linear interpolation between         the points T_(θ1) and T_(θ2) located at an edge of the object         project onto the limit d or d′ of the means of recording (10),         with the source (S) at positions S_(θ1) and S_(θ2) respectively;     -   if the two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) associated with source         position S_(θ1) is not available, point T_(θ1) is then         extrapolated from the points T_(θ) that are available;     -   the procedure includes a supplementary step of:     -   d) applying a closure function to the extrapolated         two-dimensional mask M_(θ2);     -   before step a), the procedure involves a step for determining a         limit of extrapolation l_(fin), that is effectively parallel to         the limit d or d′ of the means of recording and that is located         outside the limits of the means of recording;     -   for every line l that is that is effectively parallel to the         limit of extrapolation l_(fin) and located between the limit d         or d′ of the means of recording and the limit of extrapolation         l_(fin), step b) involves the following substeps:         -   b1) working out a plane P₁ ^(θ2) that passes through             position S_(θ2) and the line l         -   b2) working out an intermediate three-dimensional mask for             each voxel (ν) located at the intersection of the plane P₁             ^(θ2) and the volume of interest; and     -   step c) involves a projection step for every line l that is that         is effectively parallel to the limit of extrapolation l_(fin),         and located between the limit d or d′ of the means of recording         and the limit of extrapolation l_(fin), for the intermediate         three-dimensional mask.[0011] In accordance with the invention,         an extrapolation procedure is also envisaged for a series of         two-dimensional masks M_(θ) in a radiographic device, with the         feature that each two-dimensional mask M_(θ) in the series of         two-dimensional masks is extrapolated by a procedure exhibiting         at least one of the features described earlier.

A beneficial but optional part of the procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes at least one of the following features:

-   -   the procedure that employs at least one of the features listed         earlier is applied iteratively, and     -   at each iteration, the means of recording are extended into         their adjacent virtual equivalents corresponding to a common         part of the two-dimensional masks M_(θ) already extrapolated.

To achieve this, an embodiment of the invention envisages a calculation procedure for a three-dimensional mask based on a series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ) in a radiographic device of the type containing a mobile X-ray source taking up at least two positions S_(θ1) and S_(θ2) in space, associated with their respective two-dimensional masks M_(θ1) and M_(θ2), a means of recording that is in an essentially planar arrangement opposite the source and which has a limit d or d′ and a volume of interest consisting of an object that is suitable for radiography, located between the source and the means of recording, with the procedure consisting of the following steps:

-   -   a) extrapolation of the series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ) by         a procedure featuring at least one of the previously listed         characteristics, and     -   b) determination of a three-dimensional digital mask based on         the extrapolated series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ).

A beneficial but optional part of the procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes at least the following features:

-   -   step b), comprising the following sub-steps:         -   b1) application of a dilation function followed by a             low-pass filter to obtain a membership function μ_(Mθ) for             each two-dimensional mask M_(θ)         -   b2) evaluation of a membership function μ_(M3d) based on the             membership function μ_(M3d), using a T-norm operator         -   b3) determination of the three-dimensional digital mask             based on the membership function μ_(M3d), and     -   the t-norm operator is a probabilistic one.     -   In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a         radiographic device is envisaged of the type that has:     -   a mobile source of X-rays that moves along a circular arc with         centre C;     -   means of recording, in an essentially planar arrangement         opposite the source;     -   a volume of interest, containing an object suitable for         radiographic examination, located between the source and the         means of recording;     -   a means of initiating a procedure featuring at least one of the         characteristics listed earlier.

Other characteristics and benefits of embodiments of the invention will appear in the course of the description that follows of a mode of realization of the invention plus variants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With regard to the drawings attached:

FIG. 1 gives a three-dimensional diagram of a device and of the procedure in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the side of the device and of the procedure of FIG. 1 allowing the extrapolation of a two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) onto a segment 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view from the side similar to FIG. 2 but not allowing the extrapolation of the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) onto the segment 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view from the side similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the procedure in accordance with the invention for the extrapolation of a two-dimensional mask at the end of the series of two-dimensional masks to be extrapolated by the procedure in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a step for determining a three-dimensional digital mask by the procedure in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIG. 1: a radiographic device suitable for producing imagery by three-dimensional tomography contains a means of recording 10 that takes the form of a digital detector that is effectively flat and defines a plane P_(D). A digital detector such as this comprises a matrix of detectors each of which represents a pixel p, uniformly distributed into lines and columns. The radiographic device also includes an X-ray source opposite the means of recording and which is mobile with respect to this same means of recording. The X-ray source, which will generally be an X-ray generator tube, is suitable for being moved in discrete steps along a trajectory S that is effectively a circle of radius r and centre C. The trajectory S is restricted in terms of angle to an interval of range [θ_(min); θ_(max)], where 0≦θ_(min)<θ_(max)≦π, and where the angles are measure with respect to the plane P_(D) of the detector. At each discrete source position S_(θ) along this trajectory S, there are an associated angle θ in the range [θ_(min); θ_(max)], an image I_(θ) projected and captured by the detector 10, and a two-dimensional mask M_(θ).

Furthermore, there is a volume of interest 20 situated between the X-ray source and the means of recording 10, suitable for containing an objected intended for X-ray examination by the radiographic device. This region of interest 20 is delimited in part by a bottom plane P_(B) and a top plane P_(T). The planes P_(B) and P_(T) are effectively parallel to the detection plane P_(D), defined by the means of recording 10. The volume of interest is furthermore delimited by four planes (not shown) passing through each of the edges d, d′, e and e′ of the detector and effectively perpendicular to the planes P_(B) and P_(T). The region of interest 20 is thus shaped as a parallelepiped rectangle, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the case of a device for digital tomosynthesis of the breast, the region of interest 20 is delimited by a cushion to support the breast, the upper face of which is in plane P_(B) and the lower surface lies within plane P_(D), a compression plate of which the lower face lies in plane P_(T), such that the planes are basically parallel with the patient's torso and pass through the first at last lines (e and e′) of pixels on the detector, and planes effectively perpendicular to the ones just mentioned, passing through the first at last columns (d and d′) of pixels on the detector.

The classical method for describing a three-dimensional digital mask M_(3d) for the object situated within the volume of interest 20 is as follows:

${M\; 3{d\lbrack v\rbrack}} = \left\{ \begin{matrix} 1 & {{if}\mspace{14mu} v\mspace{14mu}{is}\mspace{14mu}{within}\mspace{14mu}{the}\mspace{14mu}{object}} \\ 0 & {otherwise} \end{matrix} \right.$ for all voxels ν within the volume of interest 20. A two-dimensional mask M_(θ) is thus a projection of this mask M_(3d) corresponding to one position S_(θ) of the source, as seen on the plane P_(D) of the detector 10, and it is defined by:

$M\;\theta\left\{ \begin{matrix} 1 & {{if}\mspace{14mu} p\mspace{14mu}{belongs}\mspace{14mu}{to}\mspace{14mu}{the}\mspace{14mu}{area}\mspace{14mu}{in}\mspace{14mu}{which}\mspace{14mu}{the}\mspace{14mu}{object}\mspace{14mu}{is}\mspace{14mu}{projected}} \\ 0 & {otherwise} \end{matrix} \right.$ for all pixels p in the plane P_(D) of the detector.

Let proj: [0; π]×R³→P_(D) be the application that associates a voxel ν of space R³ containing the volume of interest 20 and an angle θ with the projection onto the plane P_(D) corresponding to position S_(θ) of the source. We then have: ∀pεP_(D), ∀ν such that p=proj(θ,ν) M_(3d)[ν]=1

M_(θ)[p]=1 M_(θ)[p]=0

M_(3d)[ν]=0 which means, for a given position S of the source, that all the voxels projected outside a region of the object on plane P_(D) of the detector do not belong to the three-dimensional digital mask for the object in question.

Notation

A reference frame O used hereafter in the description is described by the plane P_(D) of the detector and the plane that is perpendicular to it, passing through the first line of pixels e in the detector and which contains the trajectory of the source. An x-axis is therefore aligned with the column d of pixels in the detector and oriented from the first line e towards the last line e′. A y-axis is located along the first line e and oriented from the last column d towards the first column d′. The origin of the reference frame is located in plane P_(D) such that the centre C of the trajectory of the source has coordinates (0,0, z_(C)).

Within this reference frame, each voxel ν of the space R³ has coordinates (x_(v), y_(v), z_(v)).[0029] ∀θε[0; π], S_(θ) is the position of the source on the trajectory of angle θ with respect to the y-axis. Therefore ∀θε[0; π], x_(Sθ)=0; y_(Sθ)=r cos(θ), z_(Sθ)≦r sin(θ)+z_(C).

y_(d) is the ordinate of the last column d; y_(d′) is that of the first column d′.

∀θε[0; π], T_(θ) is the point located on the final column d of the detector (or the first column d′ respectively), the point corresponding to an edge of the object situated within the volume of interest 20 in the projection associated with angle θ.

∀θε[0; π] points E_(θ) and J_(θ) are the intersection points of the line segment S_(θ)T_(θ) and the planes P_(T) and P_(B) respectively.

For a column 1 of pixels in the detector, A₁=(x_(e)=0, y₁, 0) is the point corresponding to the first pixel of the detector in column 1, and B₁=(x_(e′), y₁, 0) is the point corresponding to the last pixel of the detector in this column 1. Let P₁ ^(θ) be the plane passing through the three points S_(θ), A₁ and B₁.

Description of a Procedure in Accordance with an Embodiment of the Invention

As the points T_(θ) are on the edge of the object as projected at the last column d (or the first column d′ respectively), the line segments S_(θ)T_(θ) are tangential to the edge of the object in the three-dimensional digital mask M_(3d). As the volume of interest 20 is delimited by planes P_(T) and P_(B), this means that the line segments E_(θ)J_(θ) are tangential to the said edge of the object. The idea of the procedure in accordance with the invention is to use these segments to define an intermediate three-dimensional mask M˜ enveloping the object and to project this intermediate three-dimensional mask outside the limits of the detector as represented by the last column D (and the first column d′ respectively) in a manner allowing the two-dimensional masks M_(θ) to be extrapolated, one column of pixels at a time.

Let us suppose that we want to extrapolate a two-dimensional mask M_(θ2), associated with an angle θ₂ and a specific source location Sθ₂ at the position of a column 1 of pixels that is beyond the limits of the detector. We therefore have y₁<y_(d)<0 (and y₁>y_(d′)>0 respectively) within the frame of reference O in FIG. 1. Let us take an angle θ₁>θ₂ (or θ₁<θ₂ respectively) corresponding to a particular source position S_(θ1) close to position Sθ₂. So as not to overload this proposition, let us assume that there is only a single point T_(θ2) and a single point T_(θ) ₁ (the case of several points T_(θ) will be treated later on). For all angles γ in the interval from θ₁ to θ₂, we work out the position of the point T_(γ) on the final column d (or the first column d′ respectively) making use of a linear interpolation between T_(θ1) and T_(θ2):

$\quad\left\{ \begin{matrix} {x_{T_{\theta_{1}}} = {{\alpha\;\theta_{1}} + \beta}} \\ {x_{T_{\theta_{2}}} = {{\alpha\;\theta_{2}} + \beta}} \\ {x_{T_{\gamma}} = {{\alpha\gamma} + \beta}} \end{matrix} \right.$ where α and β are constants.

This then gives the coordinates of the point T_(γ):

$T_{\gamma} = \left( {{{\frac{x_{T_{\theta_{2}}} - x_{T_{\theta_{1}}}}{\theta_{2} - \theta_{1}}\gamma} + x_{T_{\theta_{1}}} - {\frac{x_{T_{\theta_{2}}} - x_{T_{\theta_{1}}}}{\theta_{2} - \theta_{1}}\theta_{1}}},y_{d},0} \right)$

A surface defined by {S_(γ)T_(γ)Iγε[θ₁; θ₂]} therefore delimits a frontier region of the intermediate three-dimensional mask M˜ containing, in the manner worked out above, the object in question.

The extrapolation of the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) onto the column of pixels 1 is done by projecting the intermediate three-dimensional mask M˜ onto the plane P_(D) of the detector 10, taking the source to be located at position S_(θ2).

In the case in question, we use a first step to work out the final column d (or the first column d′ respectively) in a two-dimensional mask M_(γ) associated with the source position S_(γ) for angle γ, which is between θ₁ and θ₂:

${\forall{p \in \left\lbrack {A_{d}B_{d}} \right\rbrack}},{{M_{\gamma}\lbrack p\rbrack} = \left\{ \begin{matrix} 1 & {{{if}\mspace{14mu}{xp}} \leq X_{T\;\gamma}} \\ 0 & {otherwise} \end{matrix} \right.}$

In a second step, we work out the intersection between a three-dimensional envelope for the object under consideration and a plane P₁ ^(θ2)=S_(θ2)A₁B₁, a plane that therefore contains column 1 or pixels onto which the extrapolation is to be performed for the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2). With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3: there is a portion 21 of the volume of interest 20 that is “seen” by the means of recording 10 when the source is in position S_(θ1) but not when the source is in position S_(θ2). For every voxel ν that belongs to the intersection of plane P₁ ^(θ2) and the volume of interest, there is an angle γ between θ₁ and θ₂ such that the voxel ν is projected onto the final column d (or the first column d′ respectively) when the source is in position S_(γ). Point S_(γ) is the intersection between a line passing through A_(d) (or A_(d′) respectively) and the point (0, y_(v), z_(v)) and the locus S of the source. A necessary condition at all times is that the angle γ exists such that all the voxels ν of the intersection between the volume of interest 20 and the plane P₁ ^(θ2) can be projected onto the last column d (or first column d′ respectively):

y_(t) > max (y_(proj(θ₂, E_(θ₁))), y_(proj(θ₂, J_(θ₁)))) and

y_(t) < min (y_(proj(θ₂, E_(θ₁))), y_(proj(θ₂, J_(θ₁)))) respectively. All voxels ν of the intersection being considered therefore belong to the portion 21 of the volume of interest 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

If this condition is not fulfilled, we are in a situation similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3. Only a portion of the voxels ν in the intersection being considered belong to the portion 21 of the volume of interest 20. Because of this, the intermediate three-dimensional mask M˜ cannot be worked out for the entirety of the volume of interest 20, since information is missing as a result of the voxels ν in the intersection being considered that are outside the portion 21 of the volume of interest 20 and that have not been “seen” by the means of recording 10 when the source is either at position S_(θ2) or at a position S_(θ1). There is therefore a column 1 _(fin), outside of which it is not possible to work out the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2). This column 1 _(fin), fits a linear equation

y = max (y_(proj(θ₂, E_(θ₁))), y_(proj(θ₂, J_(θ₁)))) and

y = min (y_(proj(θ₂, E_(θ₁))), y_(proj(θ₂, J_(θ₁)))) respectively.

Then, for every column 1 of pixels contained between the last column d (or the first column d′ respectively) and the column 1 _(fin), whatever the voxel ν belonging to the intersection of plane P₁ ^(θ2) and the volume of interest 20, the intermediate three-dimensional mask M˜ is determined by:

${M \sim \lbrack v\rbrack} = \left\{ \begin{matrix} 1 & {{{if}\mspace{14mu} M\;{\gamma\left\lbrack {{proj}\left( {\gamma\; v} \right)} \right\rbrack}} = 1} \\ 0 & {otherwise} \end{matrix} \right.$

Then, in a third step, we project the three-dimensional mask M˜ onto the column of pixels 1, making use of the position S_(θ2) of the source S:

${\forall{\in \theta}} = \left\{ \begin{matrix} \begin{matrix} {1\mspace{14mu}{if}\mspace{14mu}{\exists{v \in {{volume}\mspace{14mu}{of}\mspace{14mu}{interest}\mspace{14mu}(20)\mspace{14mu}{such}\mspace{14mu}{that}}}}} \\ {\left. {{proj}\mspace{14mu}\left( {\theta_{2},V} \right)} \right\rbrack = {{p\mspace{14mu}{and}\mspace{14mu} M\text{\textasciitilde}(v)} = 1}} \end{matrix} \\ {0\mspace{14mu}{otherwise}} \end{matrix} \right.$

This allows the extrapolation of the two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) onto pixel column 1 to be obtained.

Extrapolation for Two-Dimensional Masks M_(θ2) Associated with Projections of the Extremity of the Source Trajectory S

In this situation, the angle θ₂ is equal to either θ_(max) or θ_(min). There is therefore no angle θ₁>θ₂=θ_(max) (or θ₁<θ₂=θ_(min) respectively) corresponding to a discrete position S_(θ1) for the source close to position S_(θ2) that would allow the procedure according to an embodiment of the invention to be used as described previously.

To alleviate this situation and in order to apply the procedure as described according to the invention previously, we are going to extrapolate a position S′_(θ1) for the source, associated with the angle θ₁>θ₂=θ_(max) (or θ₁<θ₂=θ_(min) respectively). To this end, let us take an angle θ₁>θ₂=θ_(max (or θ) ₁<θ₂=θ_(min) respectively) corresponding to a discrete source position S_(θ3) close to position S_(θ2) (see FIG. 4). We are therefore working out the position of point T′_(θ1) on the final column d (or the first column d′ respectively) making use of a linear interpolation between T_(θ2) and T_(θ3), as described previously for working out the point T_(γ) starting from points T_(θ1) and T_(θ2). It is therefore sufficient to apply the procedure in accordance with the invention as described earlier.

Shapes of real objects likely to be present in the volume of interest 20:

To describe the procedure according to an embodiment of the invention, we have assumed the existence of a single point T_(θ) on the last column d (or the first column d′ respectively). However, much of the time this is not the case: there are several points T_(θ) on this column d (or d′ respectively). In order to resolve these cases, the procedure in accordance with the invention described previously is applied considering the points T_(θ) one at a time, giving an associated intermediate result. If there are three points T_(θ), for example, the procedure in accordance with the invention is applied three times and there are three associated intermediate results. Once all the points T_(θ) have been considered one after the other, the final result involves applying a logical AND to the entire group of associated intermediate results.

In one variant that can be realised, the logical AND is applied during the evaluation of the intersection between the volume of interest 20 and plane P₁ ^(θ2).

Once all the two-dimensional masks have been extrapolated, the limit l_(fin), is being removed by considering a virtual detector covering a zone that is common to all the extrapolated two-dimensional masks and by iterating the extrapolation procedure according to the invention as has just been described above.

Once the series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ2) has been extrapolated this way, a final step can be applied to these masks in order to by sure that they are as natural as possible with respect to the object being X-rayed within the volume of interest 20. This final step is the application of a morphological closure based on a disc, with a diameter of a predetermined number of pixels. A morphological closure such as this consists of a dilation function based on the said disc followed by an erosion based on the same disc. This is a known method for image handling.

Determination of the Final Three-Dimensional Digital Mask:

Reconstruction of the final three-dimensional digital mask can then be realized based on the series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ2) thus extrapolated. This type of reconstruction is well known. In order to avoid sudden transitions between the object and the background, a weighting (also known as “fuzzification”) is always applied, making use of the theory of fuzzy sets.

To do this, member functions are associated with properties of the three-dimensional digital mask M_(3d) (M_(3d)[v]=1 if the voxel ν belongs to the object in question) and the two-dimensional mask M_(θ)(M_(θ)[p]=1 if the pixel p belongs to the surface when the object in question is projected onto the plane P_(D)). Let these member functions be μ_(M3d) and μ_(Mθ) respectively. These member functions provide values that indicate how much the element complies with the property associated with the member function: these values range from 0 (the associated property is not the case) and 1 (the associated property is fully confirmed).

In order to determine the member function μ_(Mθ), the transition from 1 to 0 (object to background) is used that is present in the two-dimensional masks M_(θ) extrapolated as described earlier. In the current state of these two-dimensional masks, a precision error can arise at the transitions between object and background in the two-dimensional masks M_(θ). It is therefore sensible to balance or blur out the transition between the object and the background. To do this, the two-dimensional masks M_(θ) are treated as images in which the pixels take values from 0 (background) to 1 (object in question), to which a dilation based on a disc has been applied and then a low-pass filter. The dilation ensures that the kernel of the member function μ_(Mθ) (when this is equal to 1) covers the whole of the object under consideration, whereas applying a low-pass filter allows smooth transitions between the object and the background to be obtained. The size of the disc used for the dilation should correspond to the size of a kernel used when applying the low-pass filter (for example an average filter) once it has finished. This condition ensures that a result from applying the low-pass filter will be the same as the result in the zones of the two-dimensional mask M_(θ) “flagged” as belonging to the object under consideration, before the dilation.

As a variant, if the low-pass filter is an infinite impulse response filter (such as a Gaussian filter), the size of the dilation disc should be a value based on which the coefficients of the kernel of the low-pass filter can be disregarded (in a Gaussian filter, the kernel can be small if the deviation type is small and if the coefficients are only represented by a few of the bits, in IT terms).

It should be noted that the precision error can be modelled by the size of the kernel of the low-pass filter: filters with large kernels containing significant values rarely retain the low frequencies and therefore smear out (make fuzzy, balance out) the transitions between the object and the background more.

In order to determine the member function μ_(M3d) corresponding to the property associated with the three-dimensional digital mask M_(3d), the information supplied by the properties associated with the two-dimensional masks M_(θ) (for each angle θ associated with each two-dimensional mask in the series of extrapolated two-dimensional masks) must be reassembled making use of an aggregation operator (see FIG. 5). An aggregation operator such as this could be a t-norm operator T. This allows the member function μ_(M3d) to be calculated as a fuzzy counterpart of the logical AND. Numerous t-norm operators exist: probabilistic, drastic, Zadeh, Lukasiewicz, etc. The procedure has been implemented using the probabilistic t-norm operator.

The member function μ_(M3d) is therefore determined as follows: ∀νεvolume of interest (20),

μ_(M_(3d))(v) = T_(θ)μ_(M_(θ))(proj(θ, v))

We thus obtain a final weighted three-dimensional digital mask M_(3d).

There are of course numerous modifications that can be applied to various embodiments of the invention such as that described above without deviating from the framework described for it.

In this document, the terms “procedure” and “method” are used interchangeably.

This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the claimed invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Although specific features of embodiments of the invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words “including”, “comprising”, “having”, and “with” as used herein are to be interpreted broadly and comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover, any embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the only possible embodiments. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A computer-implemented method for processing radiographic images by extrapolating a two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) from a series of two-dimensional masks, the method comprising: at a radiographic device comprising an X-ray source and a digital detector that is in planar arrangement opposite the source and which has a limit (d, d′): a) recording a series of images at a series of positions S_(γ) for the X-ray source of a volume of interest consisting of an object located between the X-ray source and the digital detector; b) calculating a series of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) from the series of images, the series of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) associated with the series of positions S_(γ) for the X-ray source, located between a first position S_(θ1) and a second position S_(θ2) for the X-ray source, starting from a first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) and a second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) ; c) calculating an intermediate three-dimensional mask for the object, starting from the series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ) and the first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) and the second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2); d) extrapolating the second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) beyond the limits d or d′ of the digital detector, according to a relative position between the first position S_(θ1) and the second position S_(θ2), starting from the intermediate three-dimensional mask; and e) reconstructing a final three-dimensional digital mask from a resulting series of extrapolated two-dimensional masks M_(θ2).
 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein before step b), if the first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) associated with the first position S_(θ1) is not available, the method further includes a step for extrapolating the first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) from the available two-dimensional masks M_(θ).
 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising projecting the intermediate three-dimensional mask based on the second position S_(θ2) onto a plane passing through the digital detector.
 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the at least partially estimating step b) is carried out at the limit d or d′ of the digital detector, according to the relative position between the first position S_(θ1) and the second position ^(S) _(θ2).
 5. The computer-implemented extrapolation method of claim 4, wherein for each of the two-dimensional masks M_(γ), the at least partially estimation from step b) involves a step that determines a point T_(γ) situated at an edge of the object, projected onto the limit d or d′ of the digital recorder, with the source at position S_(γ).
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the point T_(θ)are estimated by linear interpolation between a first point T_(θ1) and a second point T_(θ2) located at an edge of the object projected onto the limit d or d′ of the digital detector, with the source at the first position S_(θ1) and the second position S_(θ2) respectively.
 7. The computer-implemented extrapolation method of claim 6, wherein if the first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) associated with first position S_(θ1) is not available, the method includes extrapolating the first point T_(θ1) from the points T_(θ) that are available.
 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising applying a closure function to the extrapolated second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2).
 9. The extrapolation method of claim 1, wherein before step b), the method further comprises a step for determining a limit of extrapolation l_(fin) that is effectively parallel to the limit d or d′ of the digital detector and that is located outside the limits of the digital detector.
 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein for every line l that is that is effectively parallel to the limit of extrapolation l_(fin) and located between the limit d or d′ of the digital detector and the limit of extrapolation l_(fin), the step c) further comprises the following steps: working out a plane P₁ ^(θ2) that passes through the second position S_(θ2) and the line l; and working out an intermediate three-dimensional mask for each voxel (ν) located at the intersection of the plane P₁ ^(θ2) and the volume of interest.
 11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the step further comprises a projection step for every line l that is effectively parallel to the limit of extrapolation l_(fin) and located between the limit d or d′ of the digital detector and the limit of extrapolation l_(fin) for the intermediate three-dimensional mask.
 12. A computer-implemented method for processing images radiographic images by calculating a three-dimensional mask based on a series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ), the method consisting of the following steps: at a radiographic device comprising an X-ray source and a digital detector that is in planar arrangement opposite the source and which has a limit (d, d′): a) recording a series of images at a series of positions S_(γ) for the X-ray source of a volume of interest consisting of an object located between the X-ray source and the digital detector; b) extrapolating the a series of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) by: b1) estimating a series of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) associated with a series of positions S_(θ) for the X-ray source, located between a first position S_(θ1) and a second position S_(θ2) of the X-ray source, starting from a first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) and a second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2); b2) evaluating an intermediate three-dimensional mask for the object, starting from the series of two-dimensional masks M_(γ) and the first two-dimensional mask M_(θ1) and the second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2); and b3) extrapolating the second two-dimensional mask M_(θ2) beyond the limits d or d′ of the digital detector, according to a relative position between the first position S_(θ1) and the second position S_(θ2), starting from the intermediate three-dimensional mask; and c) reconstructing a three-dimensional digital mask based on the extrapolated series of two-dimensional masks M_(θ).
 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein step c) includes steps involving: c1) applying a dilation function followed by a low-pass filter to obtain a membership function μ_(Mθ) for each two-dimensional mask M_(θ); c2) evaluating a membership function μ_(M3d) based on the membership function μ_(Mθ), using a T-norm operator; and c3) determining the three-dimensional digital mask based on the membership function μ_(M3d).
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, wherein the t-norm operator is probabilistic. 